Saturday - From Vincent with Love

Today's tip reflects what I am actually going to do this afternoon.


The Hermitage Amsterdam normally displays collections belonging to the original Hermitage in St. Petersburg and at the moment is hosting an exhibition on Peter the Great, however till the end of April it's also home to a special event.

Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum is closed right now but part of its collection is temporarily on display, in a new set up which includes some of the painter's letters, objects and drawings on paper, at the Hermitage on the Amstel.

The Amstelhof, which now hosts the Hermitage Amsterdam, was an elderly people hospice for more than 300 years and it has been beautifully restored. It is till possible to get a feeling of the building's old outlook and function by visiting the refurbished kitchen in the basement.

The exhibition runs till the 24 April 2013.

http://www.hermitage.nl/en/

Friday - Plan your night out in Rotterdam (...in March)

This post is about something you should do today, or in the coming days, to be able to join something truly awesome on the 9 March.

The tickets sale for the Rotterdam Museum Night has started and judging from previous years the sooner you get them the better, as the event is becoming more and more popular. And rightly so, since it's lots of fun!

On the night of the 9 March, from 20.00 till the early hours in the morning, all Rotterdam's museums, art galleries and cultural institutions will be open, with special exhibitions, performances and DJ sets. We saw a flash mob in the Maritime museum 2 years ago and became "part" of an art project last year.

Streets and bars are full so if you are planning to have dinner, book well in advance, maybe in one of the restaurants on the Witte de Wit, the real pulsating heart of the event.

http://www.rotterdamsemuseumnacht.nl/en/index.php

Thursday - Come dine with me in Delfgauw

OK, there is no escaping Valentine Day it seems, so maybe it's time to mention my favourite dining out venue around here.

In Delfgauw, in a place that looks like the bucolic middle of nowhere, but in fact it's not far from the IKEA, there's the cute "Cafe' du Midi", a small wooden building, a former farm possibly, which now serves quite delicious (but inexpensive) meals, prepared with seasonal organic vegetables, meat from the nearby polders and scrumptious desserts.

It's lovely in summer as well, with a well shaded outdoor and chicken and goats roaming freely for the delight of the kids.

http://www.dumididelfgauw.nl/

Wednesday - Happy (belated) Chinese New Year in Rotterdam

Last chance today to celebrate the Chinese New Year, with events in Rotterdam kicking in at 12.00 in the Wijpark Oost.

Live music, the dragon dance, the children's lantern parade and much more will be followed by a fireworks show around 18.30.

Happy Snake Year to you all!

http://chinafestivals.nl/rotterdam-nieuwjaar-festival-programma

Tuesday - Happy pannenkoek day!

Today it's Pancake Day and since we are in Holland we should celebrate with the local speciality: pannenkoeken!

The Dutch pannenkoek differs from French crepes or British pancakes in the sense that in the savoury versions the extras such as bacon, leek, mushrooms, etc. are "embedded" into the egg batter, making it more similar to a frittata than to an American pancake for instance.

Nevertheless, there are several delicious combination and today we have a good excuse to try some!

My favourite pannenkoekenboerderij (literally, "pancakes farm") is the Theehuis Rhijnauwen  nearby Utrecht, in the pretty woodscape of Amelisweerd.

http://www.iens.nl/restaurant/3770/bunnik-theehuis-rhijnauwen/website

Monday - Movement Classes in Den Haag

Every Monday at the theatre Korzo, starting at 20.00, professional dancers, free stylers, amateurs and whoever feels like dancing can join one of the resident choreographers for an evening of dance and study of the creative process.

All ages and abilities are welcome.

One class is 7,50, but if you are really keen, a "strippenkaart" for 10 classes is available for 50 euro.

http://www.korzo.nl/nl/producties/monday-movement-classes

Sunday - It's Carnival time in Limburg!

Since Easter comes so early this yea, it means that it's already Carnival time in several party of Europe and the World.

Although it goes largely unnoticed in Den Haag, to my eternal dismay since I love Carnival and wearing fancy costumes, it's time for celebration in the Southern part of the country.

Grown ups and children parades, dances in the street and papier mache floats will be a common sight today and the agenda of the activities in programme seems to go on forever...

http://www.uitinlimburg.nl/carnaval-limburg.htm